Stand for light firearms

ABSTRACT

A stand for light firearms is substantially in the form of a tripod and includes a firearm support one end of which is connected to the stand by means of a universal joint, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a vertical strut the other end of which is supported by a device which is slidable and detainable on a horizontally disposed guide of the stand to permit lateral aiming adjustment of the firearm support, the strut comprising a screw-threaded spindle and a sleeve in which it is longitudinally displaceable for adjusting the effective length of the strut, the sleeve supporting a screwthreaded jaw which embraces the spindle by less than 180* and which is disengageable therefrom for coarse length adjustment, and the spindle being rotatable while in mesh with the jaw for fine length adjustment.

United States Patent Nov. 21, 1972 Horn [54] STAND FOR LIGHT FIREARMS[72] Inventor: Kurt Horn, Oberndorf, Germany [73] Assignee: Heckler &Koch GmbH, Oberndorf,

Germany [22] Filed: July 29, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 59,057

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 30, 1969 Germany ..P 19 38592.3

[52] U.S. Cl. ..89/40 E [51] Int. Cl. ..F4lf 21/04 [58] Field of Search..42/94; 89/37 B, 40 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,728,757 9/1929 Haubroe ..89/40 E 959,291 5/1910 Benet et al. ..89/4O E2,346,172 4/1944 Lennon et al. ..89/37 B 1,670,621 5/1928 Henneveld..89/40 E FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 682,126 10/1939 Germany..89/40 E Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley AttorneyCraig & AntonelliABSTRACT A stand for light firearms is substantially in the form of atripod and includes a firearm support one end of which is connected tothe stand by means of a universal joint, and the other end of which ispivotally connected to one end of a vertical strut the other end ofwhich is supported by a device which is slidable and detainable on ahorizontally disposed guide of the stand to permit lateral aimingadjustment of the firearm support, the strut comprising a screw-threadedspindle and a sleeve in which it is longitudinally displaceable foradjusting the effective length of the strut, the sleeve supporting ascrew-threaded jaw which embraces the spindle by less than 180 and whichis disengageable therefrom for coarse length adjustment, and the spindlebeing rotatable while in mesh with the jaw for fine length adjustment.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 BF 4 IN YE NTOR KURT HORN Antnneui,4' ATTORNEYS PATENTEDuum m2 3. 703. 1 23 sum 2 or 4 INVENTOR K URT H ORNCvcua, Anronelu, skewer-l q- ATTORNEYS PATENTED 21 I973 3.7 03, l 2 3sum 3 {IF 4 Fig. 4

INVENTOR KURT HORN C-v-mc nnronelli, Stewart '& ATTORNEYS PATENTED W21I91? 3. 703. l 23 SHEET 1; BF 4 INVENTOR KURT HORN CYQR HnroneLLL,skewer-l. ATTORNEYS STAND FOR LIGHT FIREARMS This invention relates to astand for light firearms including a firearm support the forward end ofwhich is connected by means of a universal joint to a support structure,such as a tripod, and the rear end of which is connected to a slidedevice by means of a strut the effective length of which is variable bymeans of a screw and nut arrangement, the slideable device beingdisplaceable and detainable on an arc-shaped guide forming part of thesupport structure.

Although in known stands of this kind the slidable device isdisplaceable on the guide and permits relatively quick adjustment of aimto either side, vertical aim adjustable of the firearm is time consumingand complicated because a large number of turns of the screw and nutarrangement is necessary to effect a significant change of the verticaladjustment.

The invention is based on the problem of avoiding the disadvantages ofthe adjustment device for the firearm carrier in known stands, andmoreover of constructing the adjusting device in a particularly simple.and nevertheless extremely reliable manner.

This object is attained according to the invention in that the screw andnut arrangement is formed by a screw-threaded spindle which is providedwith a hand wheel and a jaw which is radially displaceable relatively tothe screw-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindle by less than180, the jaw being provided on its surface adjacent to the spindle withteeth corresponding to the screw-thread of the spindle.

In the arrangement according to the invention, therefore, verticaladjustment can be performed very quickly by displacing the jaw radiallyto the spindle to such extent that its teeth become disengaged from thescrew-thread of the spindle so that the spindle can be displaced in itsaxial direction relatively to the jaw without need for being rotated.After coarse adjustment of height has been attained in this extremelyquick manner, the teeth of the jaw can be engaged again with thescrew-thread of the spindle and thereafter fine adjustment can beobtained by rotating the screw-threaded spindle. Furthermore, the jawalso operates as a detent means for the screw-threaded spindle and thusfor the firearm support with the firearm in the selected verticallyadjusted position.

The screw-threaded spindle for example may penetrate through a slidabledevice and the displacea ble jaw may be disposed in the latter. In suchan embodiment, however, the spindle is nearly completely unprotected andis therefore extremely exposed to soiling and damage. For this reason, apreferred embodiment of the invention provides that the screw-threadedspindle is rotatably mounted in the slidable device and engages into asleeve which is pivotally attached to the firearm support and which isprovided with the jaw. Although the sleeve embraces the screw-threadedspindle only for a portion of its length depending upon the verticaladjustment, it can nevertheless always be pushed completely over thescrew-threaded spindle when the stand is to be conveyed, so that thespindle is then completely shrouded and thus protected. In comparison,the risk that the screw-threaded spindle is damaged or soiled when thestand has been set up in position, is relatively small. Moreover thisarrangement leads to a particularly simple construction of the adjustingdevice.

In a further construction of the invention the jaw may be loaded by aspring which tends to hold the jaw in engagement with the screw-threadedspindle. it is understood that handling of the adjusting device of thestand is considerably simplified thereby. In a particularly preferredembodiment of the invention the jaw is attached to a slide member whichis displaceably mounted in the walls of the sleeve surrounding thescrew-threaded spindle at diametrically opposite points and is providedwith a longitudinal slot for the screwthreaded spindle to extendtherethrough. in this way the jaw is guided in a particularly goodmanner so that it assumes always a defined position and engagement withthe screw-thread of the spindle is particularly safe. At the same time,such a slide member, in particular when it is spring loaded, can bemanipulated particularly easily. Thus, for example, the end of the slidemember which is located at the side of the spindle which is locatedopposite the side in engagement with the jaw may be provided with ascrew-threaded stub which projects from the sleeve and onto which anactuating knob is screwed. This actuating knob serves simultaneously asa screw clamp which can be tightened against a collar which surroundsthe stud and which is attached to the sleeve. in this embodiment of theinvention, therefore, not only can the slide member with the jawattached thereto be displaced particularly easily, but at the same timethe jaw can be pressed tightly against the screw-threaded spindle sothat a safe detent of the firearm support with the firearm thereon isensured.

In order to protect the respective exposed part of the screw-threadedspindle and conversely also to protect the user against injury by thescrew-thread of the spindle which may have sharp edges, a furtherembodiment of the invention may provide a cover plate mounted at theends of the screw-threaded spindle, which extends over the length of thescrew-threaded spindle and, in the peripheral direction, over the arcsection not covered by the jaw. Such cover plate may servesimultaneously as carrier for a scale and may be provided with asuitable engraving for facilitating height adjustment.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screw-threaded spindleis not rigidly mounted in the slidable device but is displaceabletherein in its longitudinal direction and is coupled to a hand leverwhich makes it possible to afford to the screw-threaded spindie adisplacement motion in its longitudinal direction. This device permits asimple and quick change of the vertical firing angle within certainlimits and makes therefore a variation of the vertical spread possiblein a simple manner, without there being any need for changing thefundamentally selected adjustments of the stand or for releasing thefirearm more or less from the stand on the support.

A particularly simple embodiment of this device for varying the verticalspread is obtained when the slidable device is provided with a mountingblock for the screw-threaded spindle, a forked end of the hand leversurrounds the mounting block and the hand lever is pivotally mounted atthe ends of the prongs of the fork about an axis which extendsperpendicularly to the screw-threaded spindle and which is approximatelytangential to the screwthreaded spindle in the region of the sidethereof adjacent to the open end of the fork,

and the fork and the mounting block are penetrated by a pin whichengages in an appropriate longitudinal groove of the screw-threadedspindle on the side of the screw-threaded spindle remote from the pivotaxis. Upon pivotal displacement of the hand lever, the screw-threadedspindle is driven by means of the pin which engages into the circulargroove of the screwthreaded spindle so that a simple pivotaldisplacement of the hand lever effects the axial displacement of thescrew-threaded spindle. In order that the screwthreaded spindle assumesa defined position when the device for varying the vertical spread isnot used, a fixing pin may be displaceably and detainably mounted in thestem of the fork-shaped hand lever for the purpose of detaining thescrew-threaded spindle, the fixing pin being insertable into anappropriate opening of the mounting block for the purpose of detainingthe screwthreaded spindle in a certain rest position.

In a further construction of the invention, the slidable device may beprovided with two clamping members which are disposed at a spacing fromeach other and which are connected to each other by means of a rod, anda mounting block for the screw-threaded spindle may be pivotally mountedon the rod. This construction of the slidable device permitscompensation of changes of angle between the strut and the standstructure which occur upon vertical displacement of the firearm support,without need for a pivotal mounting of any kind of the slidable deviceitself. The guide for the slidable device may therefore have any desiredcross-section. This embodiment of the slidable device has a particularlysimple construction and moreover leads to a further development in whichthe mounting block is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of therod in order to provide thereby a facility for fine adjusting of thelateral aiming position. Thus the mounting block may advantageously beprovided with a screwthreaded stub which extends parallel to the rod andwhich engages into an adjusting knob which is rotatably, butnon-displaceably connected to one of the clamping members. By rotationof this adjusting knob, the mounting block and together with it thestrut and the firearm support are then displaceable in the slidabledevice parallel to the guide so that the firearm support, and togethertherewith the firearm, performs a pivotal movement to one side. An armmay be pivotally disposed on the rod connecting the clamping members oneto the other in the region of a clamping member, and may engage by meansof its concavely constructed end face into a circular groove of theadjusting knob. Such arrangement again is characterized by its extremelysimple construction, yet high operative reliability.

As mentioned already, the arc-shaped guide of the stand according to theinvention may have any desired cross-section. In a preferred embodimentof the invention, the arc-shaped guide comprises a flat rail which maybe formed for example by a limb of an angle profile, and the clampingmembers may be provided with a bow spring which surrounds the rail, theinside of one limb of the spring resting on a face of the rail and theinner surface of the other limb resting on a cam which is pivotallymounted in the clamping member, the cam spreading the bow spring apartin one position and thereby pressing its one limb tightly against therail.

Such construction of the clamping member is extremely simple, extremelyrobust and ensures in any case perfect clamping. It is particularlysimple when the cam is formed by a rod which is rotatably mounted in theclamping member and which is provided with a flat in the region of thebow spring. The bow spring is relaxed and the clamping member isdisplaceable on the rail as long as the flat is located opposite thecorresponding limb of the bow spring. When, however, the rod is rotatedby means of a hand lever to such extent that the peripheral surface ofthe full rod comes into engagement with the inner surface of the limb ofthe bow spring, the respective limb is pressed outwardly and the otherlimb is placed against the rail. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, this rod provided with flats in the region of the bow springsconstitutes simultaneously the rod which joins the two clamping membersof the slidable device one to the other, whereby the construction ofthis slidable device is still further simplified.

Each of the damping members may be formed in a particularly simplemanner we bow-shaped mounting member the lateral edges of the limbs ofwhich rest upon the rail, the bow-shaped mounting member being providedwith projections which engage over the edges of the rail. The rod isthen mounted in the limbs of this bow-shaped mounting member and the bowspring is disposed in the region between the limbs of this mountingmember in such manner that its limbs are located between the limbs ofthe mounting member but extend in the opposite direction thereof. Inthis case, arms may be attached in the slidable device to one of the twoclamping members in the gaps between the limbs of the bow-shapedmounting member and the bow spring, the arms extending radially awayfrom the rod and their free ends being connected by a grip member; thearms serve for rotating the rod and thus for clamping the slidabledevice to and releasing it from the rail, whereas the arm which is inengagement with the circular groove of the adjusting knob is mounted inthe other one of the two clamping members in the gaps referred to. Theslidable device is thus reduced to a minimum of extremely simplecomponent parts and can therefore be produced with a minimum of cost, inspite of its good properties of use.

The clamping members arranged to form the slidable device mayalternatively be used separately by themselves and may be utilized asstops on the arc-shaped guide rail of the stand on the two sides of theslidable device. Each stop consists then of a bow-shaped mountingmember, a bow spring and a rod mounted in the limbs of the bow-shapedmounting member, the rod having a flat or any other cam surface andbeing provided with a radially extending actuating member by means ofwhich rotation of the rod about its longitudinal axis can be effected.Preferably the rod is provided with two arms each of which is located inthe gap between the bow spring and the limbs of the bowshaped mountingmember which are laterally adjacent thereto and which are connected toeach other at their free ends by a grip member.

Further details and constructional features of the invention may be seenfrom the following description in which the invention is described andexplained in detail with reference to a constructional exampleillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In other embodiments of theinvention the features which may be taken from the description and thedrawings may be used separately by themselves or a plurality thereof inany desirable combination. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a firearm stand according to the invention, in perspectiveview,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an individual clamping member of the standaccording to FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale,

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate sections along the lines III III and IV IVthrough the clamping member according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 illustrates a vertical section through the vertical displacementdevice of the stand according to FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, and

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate sections along the lines VI VI and VII VIIthrough the device according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 illustrates a firearm stand or tripod intended for a machine gunand comprises a frame-shaped structure l, which consists of two tubularmembers 4 which are connected at one end by an angle member 2 and nearthe other end by an arc-shaped guide 3, and on which a firearm support 5is attached at its forward end by means of a universal joint 6 mountedon the angle member 2 and at its rear end by means of an adjustingdevice 7 which is displaceably mounted on the arcshaped guide 3, so thatthe firearm support is pivotal vertically and laterally. Theframe-shaped structure 1 is supported by three legs 8, one of which ispivotally attached to the angle member 2 and the others of which arepivotally attached to the two ends 9 of the tubular members 4, the ends9 projecting beyond the arcshaped guide 3. The legs 8 are provided attheir outer ends with shoes 10 which secure and stabilize the stand onany ground surface. The legs can be moved into a desired position andcan be locked in such position by means of adjusting devices 11 whichare provided at their upper ends.

The arc-shaped guide 3 for the adjusting device 7 has an angularcross-section and the upper limb forms a rail 12 on which a slidabledevice 13 of the adjusting device as well as two stops 14, one on eachside of the slidable device, are disposed in a displaceable anddetainable manner. The stops may serve for defining definite positionsfor the slidable device 13 on the guide 3 into which the slidable devicecan be moved even in darkness, if certain targets are to be fired at forwhich the aiming position has been predetermined and fixed by means ofthe stops. Moreover, the guide 3 may be provided with a graduated scalewhich facilitates the aim setting of the firearm and re-adjustment todefined directional positions.

As may be seen from FIGS. 2 to 4 the stops 14 consist substantially of aU-shaped bow-shaped mounting member 21, which rests by the lateral edgesof its two limbs on the upper surface of the rail 12 which is formed bythe limb 12 of the angle profile constituting the guide 3. In the regionof its yoke 24 and also at the forward ends of its limbs, the mountingmember 21 has projections 22 and 23. The projections 23 engage over theedges of the rail 12, and the projection 22 in the region of the yoke 24of the bow-shaped member 21 rests on the outside of the second limb ofthe angle profile forming the guide 3; the projections 23 at the freeends of the limbs of the mounting member 21 moreover engage under theedge of the rail 12. As indicated clearly in FIG. 4, these projections23 are additionally cranked inwardly.

Between the limbs of the mounting member 21 there is located a bowspring 25 the limbs of which extend in the opposite direction to thelimbs of the mounting member 21 and moreover are disposed in a planewhich is perpendicular to the plane in which the limbs of the mountingmember 21 are located and to which the rail 12 extends parallel.

It is particularly clear from FIG. 3 that the one limb 26 of the bowspring 25 rests against the underside of the rail 12, that is to sayagainst the side of the rail remote from the limbs of the mountingmember 21.

. The bow spring 25 engages around this rail, and its other limb 27 isconsequently located close to the lateral edge of the mounting member 21which is remote from the rail 12. In the space enclosed by the twobow-shaped members 21 and 25 there is located a rod 28 which isrotatably mounted in the limbs of the bow-shaped mounting member and isprovided with a flat surface 29 in the region of the bow spring 25. Inthe gap between the two limbs of the mounting member 21 and the bowspring 25, radially extending arms 30 are attached to the rod 28 and areconnected together by a grip member 31 at their free ends which projectbeyond the limbs of the mounting member 21. The arms 30 with the gripmember 31 form an actuating member by means ofwhich the rod 21 can berotated about its longitudinal axis.

When the actuating member 30, 31 assumes the position illustrated inFIG. 3, the full periphery of the rod 28 lies against the inside of thelimb 27 of the bow spring 25 and thereby spreads this bow spring apartso that the lower limb 26 of the bow spring is pressed tightly againstthe underside of the rail 12. Simultaneously, pressure is exerted uponthe mounting member 21 by the force of the bow spring by way of the rod28, owing to which the edges of the limbs of the mounting member arepressed tightly upon the upper side of the rail 12. In the positionillustrated of the actuating member 30, 31, therefore, the stop 14 isclamped securely on the arc-shaped guide 3 and is therefore safelydetained in the selected position. The clamping effected by the bowspring 25 can be released in that the arms 30 with the grip member 31are pivoted in the clockwise direction in the illustration according toFIG. 3, that is to say upwardly in the direction defined above, so thatthe flat surface 29 on the rod 28 comes into the region of the limb 27of the bow spring 25, whereby this limb is released and the bow spring25 can relax. The clearance between the limbs 26 and 27 of the bowspring is then greater than the spacing between the underside of therail 12 and the flat surface 29 on the rod 28 so that the bow spring 25is completely loose and consequently the mounting member 21 is no longerpressed against the rail 12. It can then be freely displaced until aselected position the actuating member 30, 31 is rotated again into theclamping position.

The end 32 of the limb 27 of the bow spring 25 cooperating with the rod28 is bent in such manner that it engages behind the rod 28 so that thebow spring 25 cannot slide off the rod and the rail 12 and cannot fallout of the mounting member 21.

Imamu s o As may be seen particularly clearly from FIG. 6, the slidabledevice 13 disposed on the arc-shaped guide 3 of the adjusting device 7for the fire arm support consists substantially of two clamping members41 which are connected to each other by means ofa rod 42. The clampingmembers 41 have in principle the same construction as the stops 14, andeach consists of a mounting member 21 which rests in the mannerdescribed above against the upper side of the rail 12 of the guide 3,and a bow spring 25 is located between the limbs thereof and embracesthe rail 12 in the manner described above. The rod 42 connecting thetwo.

clamping members 41 is rotatably mounted in the limbs of the mountingmembers 21 and serves simultaneously for tensioning the bow spring 25.It has therefore the flat surfaces 29 referred to above in the region ofthese bow springs. An actuating member which consists of arms 30 and agrip member 31 is attached only in the region of the upper clampingmember 41 in FIG. 6, whereas in the other or lower clamping member 41 anarm 43 is pivotally mounted on the rod 42 the object of which will beexplained further below. It is clear that the slidable device consistingof the two clamping members 41 and the rod 42 can be clamped tightly tothe guide 3, and displaced thereon after release of the clamping, in thesame manner as the stops l4 referred to previously.

In the region between the two clamping members 41, a mounting block 45is pivotally attached to the rod 42 on two holder arms 44 and is at thesame time displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the rod 42. Acompression coil spring 46 is located on the rod 42 between the holderarms 44 and is supported on the one hand at the inner surface of one ofthe arms 44 and on the other hand on a disc 47 fixed to the rod 42. Thecompression coil spring 46 tends to press the outside of the holder armof the mounting block 45 loaded thereby against the inside of theadjacent clamping member 41. This is the same clamping member 'in whichthe arm 43 referred to above is pivotally mounted. One end of this arm43 is provided with a concave end face and engages into the circulargroove 48 on an adjusting knob 49 which has an internal screw-thread 50and which is screwed upon a screwthreaded stub which is fixed in themounting block 45 parallel to the rod 42 of the slidable device 13. Byrotation of the adjusting knob 49, therefore, the screw threaded stubcan be screwed more or less out of the adjusting knob 49 or into theadjusting knob so that ac cordingly the mounting block 45 with its arms44 is displaced on the rod 42 of the slidable device because theadjusting knob 49 is held in a fixed position relatively to the slidabledevice by the arm 43 mounted in the one clamping member 41. Whereas,thus, the slidable device with its clamping members 41 provides meansfor a quick displacement of the slidable device on the guide 3 andthereafter a secure fixing of the slidable device to effect a coarseadjustment, the displaceability of the mounting block 45 on the rod 42by means of the adjusting knob 49 provides a facility for fineadjustment.

A screw-threaded spindle 52 is rotatable in the mounting block 45perpendicularly to the direction of the rod 42, and a handwheel 53 isattached thereto closely above the mounting block. The screw-threadedspindle 52 engages by its free end into a sleeve 54 which is provided atits end remote from the handwheel 53 with an eye 55, by means of whichit is pivotally attached in a manner not illustrated in detail to therear end of the firearm support 5. The screw-threaded spindle 52 and thesleeve 54 together form a strut which is telescopically variable in itslength and by means of which the spacing of the rear end of the firearmsupport 5 from the guide 3 and therefore the elevation angle of thefirearm support and the firearm attachedthereto is variable. For thispurpose a slide member 56 is provided in the sleeve 54 and isdisplaceable diametrically to the screw-threaded spindle 52; in theregion of its center it has a slot 57 through which extends thescrewthreaded spindle 52. The slide member 56 is provided at one endwith a pin 58 which engages into an opening 59 of an enlargement 60which is provided on the sleeve 54 and the outer surface of which formsat the same time a grip depression 61. Opposite the enlargement 60 ashort tube 62 is attached to the sleeve 54 in which the other end of theslide member 56 is guided. A screw-threaded pin 63 is attached to theslide member 56 and projects from this short tube 62 and supports anactuating knob 64 screwed thereon. This actuating knob is secured by aspring disc 65 attached to the free end of the pin 63 and-is provided atits end face adjacent to the short tube 62 with a sealing means 66 andflange 67 which engages over a collar formed by the short tube. i

On the side on which the pin 58 is located which engages into theenlargement 60, the slide member 56 is provided with a jaw 68. The faceof the jaw adjacent to the screw-threaded spindle 52 is provided withteeth 69 corresponding to the screw-thread of the spindle. Between thisjaw and the enlargement 60 of the sleeve there is located a helicalcompression spring 70 which is guided in openings 71 and 72 of theenlargement 60 and the jaw 68, respectively, and which tends to keep thejaw in engagement with the screw-thread of the spindle 52. The jaw 68surrounds the screw-threaded spindle on an arc of less than so that-itsteeth can be moved out of the screw-thread of the spindle 52 bydisplacement of the slide member 56 against the force of the helicalcompression spring 70. This displacement can be effected after releaseof the actuating knob 64 by pressure upon the actuating knob 64 whichmay be exerted easily, for example with the thumb of one hand, whereasthe fingers of this hand find support in the depression 61. After thejaw 68 has been disengaged from the screw-threaded spindle 52, thesleeve 54 can be displaced without difficulty in the longitudinaldirection of the screw-threaded spindle 52 to effect a quick verticaldisplacement. After a coarse adjustment has been attained, the actuatingknob 64 is released and the teeth 69 of the jaw 68 engage again into thescrew-threaded spindle 52, so that then a screw and nut connectionexists between the screw-threaded spindle 52 and the sleeve 54, and aline adjustment can be effected by rotating the screw-threaded spindle52 by means of the hand wheel 53. When the desired position has beenattained the hand wheel 64 can be secured tightly against the collarwhich is formed by the end of the short tube 62, so that a clampingconnection between the jaw 68 and the screw-threaded spindle 52 isobtained which prevents with certainty an undesirable alteration of theselected adjustment.

lnLnn-l. In an The screw-threaded spindle 52 is not only rotatable inthe mounting block 45, but is displaceable with its pin 81 also in itslongitudinal direction. Its axial position is determined by a pin 82which extends through an appropriate recess in the mounting block and engages in the region of its center into a circular groove 83 whereas itsends engage into the prongs 84 of the fork-shaped end of a hand lever 85which by its forkshaped end embraces the mounting block 45 and ispivotally mounted in the mounting block 45 by means of pins 86 in suchmanner that its pivot axis extends approximately tangentially to theside of the pin 81 of the screw-threaded spindle which is locatedopposite the pin 82 engaging into the circular groove 83. It is obviousthat upon pivotal displacement of the hand lever 85 .,the pin 82performs a displacement movement in the direction of the axis of thescrew-threaded spindle 52 and thereby drives the screw-threaded spindle.Accordingly, the sleeve 54 and the rear end of the firearm supportattached thereto also perform a displacement movement which provides thefacility for vertical spread of the fire. In order to actuate the handlever more easily a slidable pin 88 is displaceably mounted in a stem 87thereof and supports a ball 89 serving as hand grip at its endprojecting from the stem. In the face of the mounting block 45 adjacentto the stem 87 there is located a detent opening 90 into which the endof the pin 88 can be inserted in order to detain the hand lever 85, andtogether therewith the screw-threaded spindle 52, in a certain position.The pin 88 itself also comprises two detent grooves 91 and 92 into whichthe yoke 93 of a bow spring 94 can engage, the limbs of which embracethe ends of the driver pin 82 projecting from the prongs 84 of the handlever 85, and which are then supported on the projecting ends of thepins 86 serving for mounting the hand lever 85, in such manner that theyoke 93 of the bow spring penetrates under tension through acorresponding recess 95 in the stem 87 and engages into one of thedetent grooves 91 or 92 of the slidable pin 88. In the position of thepin 88 illustrated in FIG. 7 the pin engages into the detent opening 90in the mounting block 45 and the yoke 93 rests in the detent groove 91which is further remotefrom the end of the pin engaging into the detentopening 90. The pin 88 may be released from the detent opening 90 by apull on the ball 89 and can be withdrawn from the stem 87 to such extentthat the yoke 93 of the bow spring 94 engages into the other detentgroove 92. As mentioned above the screw-threaded spindle 52 can be movedup and down in this case for vertical spread by displacement of the handlever. The weight of the screwthreaded spindle and the component partssupported thereon, that is to say the sleeve 54 and the firearm sup port5 with the firearm mounted thereon, is compensated at least partly by ahelical compression spring 96 which surrounds concentrically the lowerend 97 of reduced diameter of the pin 81 and is supported on the onehand on a collar 98 at the lower end of the mounting block 45 and on theother hand on a collar 99 separating the circular groove 83 from the end97.

Above the hand wheel 53, a cover plate 76 is mounted on thescrew-threaded spindle 52 by means of a lower ring 73 and an upper ring74, the upper ring 74 being held by means of a pin 75 which is insertedand pinned in the free end of the screw-threaded spindle 52; the coverplate 76 extends in the axial direction of the screw-threaded spindle 52over the whole length thereof which is provided with a screw-thread, andcovers in the peripheral direction an arc section which is not occupiedby the jaw 68, so that space is left for the jaw 68 between the edges ofthe cover plate 76. This cover plate protects considerable parts of thescrew-threaded spindle 52 against soiling or damage even when the jaw 68is located near the upper end of the screw-threaded spindle 52 and aconsiderable portion of the screw-threaded spindle projects from thelower end of the sleeve. Moreover, a scale may be provided on this coverplate 76, for example by engraving, which gives the user a reference forthe vertical adjustment and which permits in particular thedetermination of defined vertical adjustments. It is understood that thecomponent part 76 which is referred to as plate, may consist of steel aswell as also of other materials, in particular a synthetic resinmaterial, and may be constructed unitarily together with one or both ofthe rings 73 and 74.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodimentillustrated by way of example, but that modifications thereof arepossible without the scope of the invention being exceeded. Theembodiment illustrated by way of example, however, is particularlyadvantageous because it combines in it all aspects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A stand for light firearms having an elevation adjusting devicecomprising a firearm support which is connected to a frame structure atits forward end by means ofa universal joint and at its rear end by astrut, the effective length of which is variable by means of a screw andnut arrangement and having a slidable device which is displaceably andfixably disposed on an arc-shaped guide of the frame structure, whereinthe screw and nut arrangement is formed by a screwthreaded spindleprovided with a hand wheel and by a jaw which is radially displaceablerelatively to the screw-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindleby less than the jaw being provided on its face adjacent to the spindlewith teeth which correspond to the screw-thread of the spindle, thescrew-threaded spindle being rotatably mounted in the slidable deviceand engaging into a sleeve pivotally attached to the firearm support,the jaw being loaded by a spring for holding the jaw in engagement withthe screw-threaded spindle, and the jaw being attached to a slide memberdisplaceably mounted in the walls of the sleeve surrounding thescrew-threaded spindle at points which are disposed diametricallyopposite each other, the slide member being provided with a slot for thescrewthreaded spindle to extend therethrough.

2. A stand according to claim 1, wherein the end of the slide memberwhich is located on the side of the screw-threaded spindle which isdisposed opposite the side in engagement with the jaw, is provided witha screw-threaded pin projecting from the sleeve and wherein an actuatingknob is screwed onto this screwthreaded pin, the knob being adapted tobe tightened as clamping screw against a collar which surrounds the pinand which is attached to the sleeve.

3. A stand according to claim 2, wherein a cover plate is mounted at theends of the screw-threaded spindle and extends over the length of thescrewthreaded spindle and, in the peripheral direction, over the arcsection not covered by the jaw.

4. A stand according to claim 3, wherein the screwthreaded spindle isdisplaceable in the slidable device also in its longitudinal directionand is coupled to a hand lever which is arranged to afford thescrewthreaded spindle a displacement motion.

5. A stand according to claim 4, wherein the slidable device comprises amounting block for the screwthreaded spindle, a fork-shaped end of thehand lever embraces the mounting block, and the hand lever is mounted atthe ends of the prongs of the fork-shaped end and is pivoted about anaxis which extends perpendicularly to the screw-threaded spindle andwhich is approximately tangential to the screw-threaded spindle in theregion of its side adjacent to the open end of the fork, and the forkand the mounting block are traversed by a pin which engages into acircular groove of the screw-threaded spindle on the side of thescrewthreaded spindle remote from the pivot axis.

6. A stand according to claim 5, wherein a slidable 7 pin isdisplaceably and detainably mounted in the stem of the fork-shaped handlever and is adapted to be inserted into an appropriate opening of themounting block for the purpose of detaining the screw-threaded spindlein a certain rest position.

7. A stand for light firearms having an elevation adjusting devicecomprising a firearm support which is connected to a frame structure atits forward end by means of a universal joint and at its rear end by astrut, the effective length of which is variable by means of a screw andnut arrangement and having a slidable device which is displaceably andfixably disposed on an arc-shaped guide of the frame structure, whereinthe screw and nut arrangement is formed by a screwthreaded spindleprovided with a hand wheel and by a jaw which is radially displaceablerelatively to the screw-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindleby less than 180, the jaw being provided on its face adjacent to thespindle with teeth which correspond to the screw-thread of the spindle,the slidable device including two clamping members for fixablypositioning the slidable device on the arc-shaped guide, the clampingmembers being disposed at a spacing from each other and being connectedtogether by a rod, and a mounting block for the screw-threaded spindlebeing pivotally mounted on the rod.

8. A stand according to claim 7, wherein the mounting block isdisplaceable in the longitudinal direction of the rod and is providedwith a screw-threaded pin which extends parallel to the rod and whichengages into an internal screw-thread of an adjusting knob which isrotatably but non-displaceably connected to one of the clamping members.

9. A stand according to claim 8, wherein an arm is pivotally disposed onthe rod connecting the clamping members to each other in the region of aclamping member and engages by means of its concave end face into acircular groove of the adjusting knob.

10. A stand according to any of claims claim 9, wherein the arc-shapedguide is provided with a flat rail and each of the clamping members isprovided with a bow spring which embraces the rail, the inside of theone limb of the sprin resting on one face of the rail, the inner surfaceof e other limb resting on a cam pivotally mounted in the clampingmember, the cam in one position spreading the bow spring apart andthereby pressing its one limb tightly against the rail.

11. A stand according to claim 10, wherein the cam is formed by a rodwhich is rotatably mounted in the clamping member and which is providedwith a flat surface in the region of the bow spring.

12. A stand according to claim 11, wherein the rod provided with theflat surface is time the rod connecting together the two clampingmembers.

13. A stand according to claim 12, wherein each of the clamping membersis formed by a bow-shaped mounting member which rests on the rail by thelateral edges of its limbs and which is provided with projectionsengaging over the edges of the rail, wherein the rod is mounted in thelimbs of this mounting member, and wherein the bow spring is disposed inthe region between the limbs of this bow-shaped mounting member in suchmanner that its limbs are located between the limbs of the mountingmember and extend in a direction opposite to these limbs.

14. A stand according to claim 13, wherein arms are attached to the rodin one of the two clamping members in the gaps between the limbs of themounting member and the bow-shaped clamping member which arms extendradially away from the rod and which are connected to their free end bya grip member, whereas in the other of the two clamping members an armis mounted in the gaps referred to which is in engagement with thecircular groove of the adjusting knob.

15. A stand according to claim 9, further including clamping membersdisposed on the arc-shaped guide on both sides of the slidable device.

1. A stand for light firearms having an elevation adjusting devicecomprising a firearm support which is connected to a frame structure atits forward end by means of a universal joint and at its rear end by astrut, the effective length of which is variable by means of a screw andnut arrangement and having a slidable device which is displaceably andfixably disposed on an arc-shaped guide of the frame structure, whereinthe screw and nut arrangement is formed by a screw-threaded spindleprovided with a hand wheel and by a jaw which is radially displaceablerelatively to the screw-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindleby less than 180* , the jaw being provided on its face adjacent to thespindle with teeth which correspond to the screwthread of the spindle,the screw-threaded spindle being rotatably mounted in the slidabledevice and engaging into a sleeve pivotally attached to the firearmsupport, the jaw being loaded by a spring for holding the jaw inengagement with the screwthreaded spindle, and the jaw being attached toa slide member displaceably mounted in the walls of the sleevesurrounding the screw-threaded spindle at points which are disposeddiametrically opposite each other, the slide member being provided witha slot for the screw-threaded spindle to extend therethrough.
 1. A standfor light firearms having an elevation adjusting device comprising afirearm support which is connected to a frame structure at its forwardend by means of a universal joint and at its rear end by a strut, theeffective length of which is variable by means of a screw and nutarrangement and having a slidable device which is displaceably andfixably disposed on an arc-shaped guide of the frame structure, whereinthe screw and nut arrangement is formed by a screw-threaded spindleprovided with a hand wheel and by a jaw which is radially displaceablerelatively to the screw-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindleby less than 180* , the jaw being provided on its face adjacent to thespindle with teeth which correspond to the screw-thread of the spindle,the screw-threaded spindle being rotatably mounted in the slidabledevice and engaging into a sleeve pivotally attached to the firearmsupport, the jaw being loaded by a spring for holding the jaw inengagement with the screw-threaded spindle, and the jaw being attachedto a slide member displaceably mounted in the walls of the sleevesurrounding the screw-threaded spindle at points which are disposeddiametrically opposite each other, the slide member being provided witha slot for the screw-threaded spindle to extend therethrough.
 2. A standaccording to claim 1, wherein the end of the slide member which islocated on the side of the screw-threaded spindle which is disposedopposite the side in engagement with the jaw, is provided with ascrew-threaded pin projecting from the sleeve and wherein an actuatingknob is screwed onto this screw-threaded pin, the knob being adapted tobe tightened as clamping screw against a collar which surrounds the pinand which is attached to the sleeve.
 3. A stand according to claim 2,wherein a cover plate is mounted at the ends of the screw-threadedspindle and extends over the length of the screw-threaded spindle and,in the peripheral direction, over the arc section not covered by thejaw.
 4. A stand according to claim 3, wherein the screw-threaded spindleis displaceable in the slidable device also in its longitudinaldirection and is coupled to a hand lever which is arranged to afford thescrew-threaded spindle a displacement motion.
 5. A stand according toclaim 4, wherein the slidable device comprises a mounting block for thescrew-threaded spindle, a fork-shaped end of the hand lever embraces themounting block, and the hand lever is mounted at the ends of the prongsof the fork-shaped end and is pivoted about an axis whiCh extendsperpendicularly to the screw-threaded spindle and which is approximatelytangential to the screw-threaded spindle in the region of its sideadjacent to the open end of the fork, and the fork and the mountingblock are traversed by a pin which engages into a circular groove of thescrew-threaded spindle on the side of the screw-threaded spindle remotefrom the pivot axis.
 6. A stand according to claim 5, wherein a slidablepin is displaceably and detainably mounted in the stem of thefork-shaped hand lever and is adapted to be inserted into an appropriateopening of the mounting block for the purpose of detaining thescrew-threaded spindle in a certain rest position.
 7. A stand for lightfirearms having an elevation adjusting device comprising a firearmsupport which is connected to a frame structure at its forward end bymeans of a universal joint and at its rear end by a strut, the effectivelength of which is variable by means of a screw and nut arrangement andhaving a slidable device which is displaceably and fixably disposed onan arc-shaped guide of the frame structure, wherein the screw and nutarrangement is formed by a screw-threaded spindle provided with a handwheel and by a jaw which is radially displaceable relatively to thescrew-threaded spindle and which embraces the spindle by less than 180*, the jaw being provided on its face adjacent to the spindle with teethwhich correspond to the screw-thread of the spindle, the slidable deviceincluding two clamping members for fixably positioning the slidabledevice on the arc-shaped guide, the clamping members being disposed at aspacing from each other and being connected together by a rod, and amounting block for the screw-threaded spindle being pivotally mounted onthe rod.
 8. A stand according to claim 7, wherein the mounting block isdisplaceable in the longitudinal direction of the rod and is providedwith a screw-threaded pin which extends parallel to the rod and whichengages into an internal screw-thread of an adjusting knob which isrotatably but non-displaceably connected to one of the clamping members.9. A stand according to claim 8, wherein an arm is pivotally disposed onthe rod connecting the clamping members to each other in the region of aclamping member and engages by means of its concave end face into acircular groove of the adjusting knob.
 10. A stand according to any ofclaims claim 9, wherein the arc-shaped guide is provided with a flatrail and each of the clamping members is provided with a bow springwhich embraces the rail, the inside of the one limb of the springresting on one face of the rail, the inner surface of the other limbresting on a cam pivotally mounted in the clamping member, the cam inone position spreading the bow spring apart and thereby pressing its onelimb tightly against the rail.
 11. A stand according to claim 10,wherein the cam is formed by a rod which is rotatably mounted in theclamping member and which is provided with a flat surface in the regionof the bow spring.
 12. A stand according to claim 11, wherein the rodprovided with the flat surface is time the rod connecting together thetwo clamping members.
 13. A stand according to claim 12, wherein each ofthe clamping members is formed by a bow-shaped mounting member whichrests on the rail by the lateral edges of its limbs and which isprovided with projections engaging over the edges of the rail, whereinthe rod is mounted in the limbs of this mounting member, and wherein thebow spring is disposed in the region between the limbs of thisbow-shaped mounting member in such manner that its limbs are locatedbetween the limbs of the mounting member and extend in a directionopposite to these limbs.
 14. A stand according to claim 13, wherein armsare attached to the rod in one of the two clamping members in the gapsbetween the limbs of the mounting member and the bow-shaped clampingmember which arms extend radially away from the rod and which areconnected to their free enD by a grip member, whereas in the other ofthe two clamping members an arm is mounted in the gaps referred to whichis in engagement with the circular groove of the adjusting knob.